Royal Guard

The Royal Guard is a significant addition to any serious collector's or enthusiast's cabinet, hailing from 1968 and crafted by D. Gottlieb & Company. This electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine boasts a unique blend of gameplay features that set it apart from its contemporaries.

One of the standout aspects of the Royal Guard is its use of dual outlanes, a wedge head, and four snap targets that pivot back and forth in unison in the center playfield. When pivoted left, hitting a snap target lights a stationary target of the corresponding color; when pivoted right, it lights a pop bumper of the corresponding color. When all targets and pop bumpers are lit, the side targets then light for Special, and completing the top rollovers A-B-C-D-E lights the C rollover for Special. This intricate mechanism reflects designer Ed Krynski's work, while artist Art Stenholm's World Cultures theme brings an air of international flair to the game.

The Royal Guard's sound package includes three bells and a knocker. An add-a-ball version of this machine was also released as Gottlieb's Palace Guard. With 2,900 units confirmed produced, the Royal Guard offers a fascinating glimpse into late-1960s Gottlieb design.